Patent GB-380159-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to carriage traverse mechanism for metal cutting and like machine tools
IPC: B23Q5/34
Filed: 1931-06-18
Abstract: 380,159. Boring and drilling. ASQUITH, Ltd., W., Highroad Well Works, and FEATHER, G., Wellsby House, Highroad Well, both in Halifax, Yorkshire. June 18, 1931, Nos. 17647 and 27936. [Class 83 (iii).] Driving machines.-In carriage traversing mechanism for a boring, drilling or other metal cutting machine a hand-wheel is provided connected through a clutch to a worm wheel engaging a screw, rotation of the hand-wheel giving a hand traverse by causing the worm wheel to roll on the screw as a rack whilst axial movement of the hand-wheel disconnects the clutch, whereupon a slight rotation actuates a switch or a reversing clutch to cause the screw to be rotated by power to traverse the carriage so long as the hand-wheel is held stationary. In one form a sleeve F mounted in a traversable carriage D carries a worm wheel f engaging a screw H driven by an electric motor and rotatable in the frame J of the machine. A clutch collar L is pinned to the sleeve F and has teeth engaging clutch teeth on a collar l<2> splined by a pin ml to the boss of a hand-wheel M. A rod E passing through the sleeve F has a reduced end e for engaging a forked lever C splined to a shaft A, to one end of which is attached the arm of a mercury switch or the control member of a continuously running reversing clutch for causing rotation of the screw H in one direction or the other. A pin m<5> passes through an inclined cam groove f<4>, Fig. 4, in the sleeve F and a hole in the rod E and is secured to the boss of the hand-wheel M. In operation, with the parts as shown in Fig. 1, the clutch L, l<2> is engaged by a spring l4 and rotation of the wheel M rotates the sleeve F together with the rod E and causes the worm wheel f to act as a pinion meshing with the stationary screw H and hence gives a hand traverse for the carriage D. For a power traverse, the collar l<2> is moved axially towards the wheel M, disengaging the clutch L, whereupon a slight rotation of the wheel M in the direction of feed causes the rod E to be moved axially by the cam slot f<4>, thereby rocking the shaft A and causing the screw H to be rotated in the appropriate direction. If the wheel M is then held stationary, the worm wheel f acts as a nut and causes the screw H to traverse the carriage. On releasing the collar l<2>, one of the springs m<4>, acting through thrust bearings m<3>, returns the rod E to neutral position and the spring l<3> re-engages the clutch L, l<2>. A pinion g<1> on the sleeve G meshes with the usual rack g<2> on the sleeve g<3> of the tool spindle and is rotatable by a hand-wheel g. In an alternative construction a central shaft E, Fig. 7, carries a pinion h<7> connected by gearing h<6> to a worm wheel h<3> movable with the carriage D and engaging the power-driven screw H on the machine frame. A pin n<13> is secured to a sleeve N attached to the boss of the hand-wheel n<1> and passes through a cam slot e<2> in the axially immovable shaft E. The sleeve N carries a bush O splined on a pin O<3> projecting from the cover d<2> of a switch housing d<1> and electrical contacts 0, o<1> on the bush are arranged opposite to fixed contacts o<5>, o<6> which are connected to the forward and reverse controls of a motor driving the screw H or the movable element of reversing gearing therefor. In operation, rotation of the wheel n<1> gives a hand-operated traverse of the carriage D through the clutch L, l<2>, but axial movement of the collar l<2> towards the wheel n<1> disengages the clutch, whereupon a slight rotation of the wheel n<1> moves the contact o or o<1> against a contact o<5>, or o<6> through the cam slot e<2>, thereby causing the screw H to be rotated in the appropriate direction. On releasing the collar l<2> a spring n<9>, located between thrust bearings n<7>, n<8> engaging flanges on a sleeve P secured to the shaft E and on the sleeve N, returns the latter to its neutral position as shown. Stop motions.-In either construction spring buffers may be provided on the carriage D to engage fixed stops on the machine bed at the ends of the power-operated traverses whereupon the collar l<2> is released and the springs m<4>, or n<9> restore the parts to neutral.